Would EMT B help me land an er tech job?

Specialties Emergency

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Hi everyone! I'm currently doing my pre-reqs for nursing school and starting clinicals in fall 2012. I'm already a CNA on one of the floors in my hospitals but I really really have an interest in ER nursing and would like to try and get a job as an ER tech.

Would taking an emt b class help me/be worth it? I know the hospitals here will hire ER techs with either their EMT or CNA, but do they usually have a preference? I also plan on getting my EKG certification at the end of the summer, will that increase my chances?

Any information would be great! :)

The EMT certs including Paramedic might be required as proof of skills but that is not the job description or title they will be working under in some hospitals since it is considered prehospital. The equipment and some of the methods for transporting and splinting on an ambulance are very different than in the hospital. A CNA or PCT with a phlebotomy cert and EKG knowledge who already has hospital experience would be an excellent candidate for an ER job in several hospitals. Neither EKG nor phlebotomy is taught in the EMT class. The EMTs and Paramedics who are hired may have to complete the 140 (?) hour phlebotomy class for certification and right now very few hospitals are willing to do OJT when there are others such as PCTs and MAs or CNAs with all the certs who can meet the requirements. The hospitals I have work at want those who are flexible enough to work in other areas of the hospital if necessary and who have a broad experience.

Check with the HR department as the hospitals you are interested in. Right now, be prepared to be well qualified since some hospitals see hundreds of applications for these entry level positions. Nursing students are also excellent candidates and many are planning ahead and applying in hopes being offered an RN position once they finish school.

ACLS right now would also be a waste of time and money since the class prefers you have knowledge of the components of ACLS before taking the class. EMTs also would not be working with the medications.

Specializes in Emergency Medicine.
As my original post stated im already a CNA in a hospital...I was wondering if emt would help land an ER job or if it would be a waste since I already have my CNA...

OOps-y! My Bad...

That's my A.D.D. and inattention to detail. Professional hazzard.

...can you find it in your heart to forgive me?

(Oh, and good luck with the ER)

YES! Just do it. I got my CNA first also and worked med surg while finishing up RN pre-reqs. When I realized I hated it and my heart was in ER I transferred to the trauma floor and got my EMT-B through the local community college (cheap and only 1 semester!). Luckily the hospital taught and paid for tele/ekg class. It took several months but I was eventually able to transfer to the ED.

It totally depends on the hospital you work for as far as what their ED tech requirements are. Even if you only need CNA, you can't go wrong with getting your EMT. Plus, they don't teach you anything about emergency care in the CNA course and they will cover basics you need to know in the EMT class like splinting, c-spine precautions, bandaging, wound care, etc. etc...

Good luck!! In my opinion it's totally worth it. The more education you have, the more competitive you are for the job you want :) Also, if you are going to stay with that hospital, it's better to be in the department you want to eventually be a nurse in.

oh my goodness where are you guys lol, cause im a MA/EMT-B and im trying to get a er tech job im in nyc

Hi everyone! What a great site!

Can some one please tell what the best medical background would be to go with a career as an EKG Technician? I was thinking EMT but would really like to know what a hospital prefers.

Thanks

Specializes in Emergency Dept, ICU.

Yes it would be helpful

in the hopsital I volunteer at, EMT-B does nothing really. If you want to get hired as an ER tech you need the EKG and phleb cert-which usually comes from the patient tech classes. Whilst EMT certinally won't hinder your resume, EMT alone without phleb and EKG is useless. This is straight from my volunteer supervisor- he is the one who actually hires the ER-techs. As an aside I was told that if I got my phleb and ekg certs, that I would get hired as an er tech....

Specializes in Emergency.

yes. it will help you.

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